Photographic printing machine



1945- G. c. GARRAWAY PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1943 9 Sheets-She et 1 Fig.1.

6580738 6.. GarraQLbag #5. 11

945. G. c. GARRAWAY 2,380,952

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Fig.2.

61160736 6'. darrcbwa y 1945. G. c. GAR'RAWAY 2,380,962

PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 w & w

9 I 159 zii George C. Garraway Aug. 7, 1945. G. C. GARRAWAY PHOTQGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 7; 1943 @eor ge C. Garraway ya 2% v 4 Aug. 7, 1945. G. c. GARRAWAY PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o mmmml George C. d'alrmwag Q 4 DQNN .NNN

Aug. 7, 1945. G. c. GARRAWAY PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 1945- G'. c. GARRAWAY I 2,330,962

' PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 m a 9%? f Aug. 7, 1945.

G. C. GARRAWAY PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTING- MACHINE Filed Aug. '7, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 George C. Gain-away J 9 .5:

7, 1945. G. c. GARRAW Y 1 2,380,962

1 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACK-11KB Filed Aug. 7, 1943 9'S heets-Sheet e gwua/wbo'r/ George C. Gar'raway MA/ M E. g:- i a,

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 PHOTOGRAPBIC PRINTING MACHINE George C. Garraway, Rutherford, N. J. Application August '1, 1943, Serial No. 497,751 '1 claims. (Cl. 95-16) (Granted under the act of amended April 30, 1928;

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

- This invention relates to photography and more particularly to a photographic printing machine for making photographic prints of a negative on a strip of sensitized material by exposing the sensitized material to light transmitted through the negative.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a photographic printing machine adapted to automatically produce photographic prints of a negative in succession on a strip of sensitized material and to move the strip of sensitized material a selected distance after each printing operation so that successive prints are spaced at regular intervals on the sensitized material.

March 3, 1883, as 3'10 0. G. 75'!) intervals and adapted to press a portion of the strip of sensitized material into contact with the transparent surface having the negative thereon, means for evacuating the air from between the diaphragm and transparent surface for creating a vacuum therebetween, whereby atmospheric pressure is adapted to act on the diaphragm for pressing the strip of sensitized material into contact with the negative, means for exposing the Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic printing machine including means adapted to automatically place portions of a stripof sensitized material in succession in contact with a photographic negative, to expose the portions of the strip of sensitized material to light through the negative for a predetermined period of time to produce photographic prints of the negative on the strip of sensitized material, to release the sensitized material from contact with the negative and to intermittently move the strip of sensitized material for a predetermined distance after each exposure of the strip of sensitized material to the negative.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic printing machine adapted to automatically produce photographic prints of a negative on a strip of sensitized material by exposing the strip of sensitized material to light transmitted through the negative and including means for varying the portion of each cycle of operation of themachine during the time which light is transmitted to the sensitized material through the negative, means for accelerating the speed of the machine each cycle of operation thereof, and means adapted to rewind the exposed sensitized material for further processing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic printing machine comprising a support, a platen including a transparent surface adapted to support a negative mounted on said support, a diaphragm carried by said platen, a transparent strip of sensitized material interposed between said platen and transparent surface, said platen mounted to be actuated upwardly and downwardly on the support at predetermined time during other portions of strip of sensitized material to the negative by light passing through the transparent surface and negative whereby the negative is printed on the strip of sensitized material, means for controlling the period of exposure of the strip of sensitized material to the negative, means for releasing the vacuum from between the diaphragm and transparent surface, and means for moving the strip of sensitized material a predetermined distance after each exposure.

Heretofore photographic printing machines were operated at a low speed to allow suflicient time for portions of a strip of sensitized material to have contact with large negatives and sufficient printing time, thereby causing an unnecessary amount of time to be used for feeding the strip of sensitized material across the negative after each exposure, also to allow sufllcient time in removing the sensitized material from the negative by a contact platen and moving the contact platen to place the sensitized material in contact with the negative.

It is therefore the aim and purpose of this invention to provide a photographic printing machine adapted to utilize the least portion of each cycle of operation of the machine for raising a platen to remove the sensitized material from the negative to move the sensitized material a predetermined distance across the negative and to lower the platen to place the sensitized material in contact with the negative and to utilize the greater portion of each cycle of operation of the machine for securing contact of the sensitized material with the negative and for exposing the sensitized material to the negative.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of certain features of construction and operation of parts which will hereinafter be described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved photographic printing machine;

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical taken. on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

sectional view tion.

, pending application Serial No.

tudinal sectional view of Fig. I;

view of a vacuum platen e invention with certain oken away therefrom;

sectional view taken on the perspective view of a l ehaving a punching device d in carrying out the in- Fls'. is a de tail elevation of the punching device:

\Flg. 11 is a Plan view vacuum valve and operating mechanism therefor used in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a switch used in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view tak II-II of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a diagram of an electrical circuit and connected parts used in carrying out the inven- Referring more specifically to the drawings, a substantially mngular upright. frame I is provided having a negative carrier I slidably and removabiy mounted thereon adjacent to the upper end thereof. Thenegative carrier I is provided with a plate or panel I made of any suitable transparent material such as glass'and having a negative I fixedly mounted on its upper surface, which negative Iis ada to be printed on the strip of sensitized material I. glass I or other suitable transparent material adapted to have any suitable light retarding material I sandwiched therebetween are'removably mounted in guideways I, said light retarding material I being adapted to compensate for uneven density in the negative I These glassplates I are arranged beneath the negative carrier plate I and beneath the glass platesI isa compartment or box I removably mounted on the machine frame I. A bank of suitably spaced lamps A mounted in conventional electric sockets II is provided in the box I and the lamps A are individually controlled by means of any suitable type of electrical switches II mounted on a panel II of'the switch box I. 1

The strip I of sensitized material is taken from a roll II rotatably mounted on and removable from two supporting members II and II' including shafts II and II rotatably mounted on brackets II mounted on the rear end of the machine frame I. The shaft II of the supporting member II is also horizontally and adJustably mounted on its bracket II, whereby a new roll of sensitized material may be substituted for a used roll, and the shaft II is held in a. locked position on its bracket by means of any suitable locking device H such as illustrated in the co- 477,810, filed March 3. 1943. The roll II of sensitized material is engaged by a brake shoe II mounted on the outer ends of a pair of arms .II pivotally mounted at their inner ends to the machine frame I and partly in section of a en on the line 7 the brake shoe II is held in contact with the roll II of sensitized material by means of springs II connected to the arms II and brackets II, whereby the required tension is placed on the roll II of sensitized material.

The strip I of sensitized material is fed from the roll II between a guide element II and a II ment II and roller II the rear end of the machine to the upper portion thereof, 5 sensitized material is then fed h the glass ,panel I above the other roller II. on a platen II then fed betw II, then over member II supported and II having shafts eenaroll termined am tized gnateri rewind roller member a belt II connected wi ably mounted on the of the holding membe a large pulley II flxe of the shaft II of the roller shaft II is rotat a flange I! provided on ber II, whereby the req .I of sensitized materi member II may be frictional contact of ing regulated by a s wheel II adlustably of holding me In contact with t terial on the feed r0 II, each separatel of each of the a rms their upper ends to a rod brackets II mounted end on a crank pin I threaded shaft II. plates II of parallel fixedly mounted on one end II II rotatably mounted in bearing chine frame ,I.

pivotally held on II by a nut II an on the parallel bars II index II for a suitable end of threaded shaft portion II formed thereon be engaged by a wrench or for rotating the shaft II may be adjusted the a II on machine frame I. adapted to be moved into rotatably mo II, where which guide eleably mounted on frame I adjacent and the strip of orizontally across negative I to anare suit The rollers II and II are mounted to be hereinafter described. The ized material from the roller II is er II and a guide element a feed roller II to a rewind roller on holding members II II and II, respectively, II and II are II mounted on ame I. The shaft is also horizontally is the shaft II aterial, whereby ay be substituted 8 after a predebrackets cunt of the strip I of exposed sensial has been rewo und thereon. The

II is rotated by means of th a small pulley II movouter end of the shaft II r II and connecte dly mounted on o d with ne end feed roller 21, which feed bly mounted in bearings The small pulley II is frictional contact with aft II of holding memuired tension of the strip al rewound on the roller egulated, the amount of pulley II with flange II bepring II engaged by a hand mounted on the outer end mber shaft II.

strip I of sensitized maller I1 is a plurality of rollers y supported on the lower ends II, pivotally mounted at II iigredly mounted on -way or overrunning clutch type, such as illustrated in cation above referred to, is posits end of the feed roller on which the large pulley gear II is mounted on overd meshes with the upper dably mounted on a bracket feed roller lower end II of the rack II is pi bars II The lower end of rack II is the outer end of d a nut II is ad the crank pin iustably mounted which nut II carries an graduate scale II. One II has a tool-engaging which is adapted to other suitable device by the crank pin realong, for adjusting the lower end of the rack 40 on the crank 53, with the index 59 indicating on the scale 60 the amount of adjustment of the lower end of the rack 46 on the crank 53 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The main shaft 55 has a gear 62 eccentrically mounted thereon, which meshes with a gear 63 eccentrically mounted on an output shaft 64 of any suitable type of conventional speed-reduction device 65 suitably mounted on machine frame I, with the input shaft 66 of the speed reduction device 65 having a pulley 61 fixedly mounted thereon, which pulley 61 is driven by a belt 68 engaging between two pulley elements 69 and of a standard speed regulating device H. The pulley elements 69 and 10 are mounted on a shaft 12 fixedly mounted at one end in acollar 12' on one end of an arm 13 having another collar 13 on its other end. The collar 13 is fixedly mounted on one end of a shaft 14 rotatably mounted in a bearing mounted on the machine frame I. A lever 16 is mounted at its lower end to the other end of shaft 14 and the upper end of the lever is adapted to be moved along a plate 11 mounted on the machine frame I, said plate 11 having an arcuate shaped portion 18 with a scale 19 inscribed thereon, said scale 19 being suitably graduated for indicating the resulting speed of the machine at each position of the lever 16 along scale 19. The upper end of the lever 16 is pointed and held in an adjusted position along plate 11 by means of a locking screw 80 and nut 8I.

The pulley element 10 is positioned between the pulley elements 69 and 82 of the standard speed regulating device H and is free to move 10ngitudinally along shaft 12. The belt 68 engages between pulley element 69 and one side of pulley element 10, and a belt 83 engages between pulley element 82 and the other side of pulley element 10, with the belt 83 also engaging with a pulley 84 on the shaft 85 of any suitable type of electric motor 86. The pulley elements 69, 10 and 82 of the speed regulating device H are provided with teeth 81 for meshing with each other.

A conventional clutch 88 is mounted on motor shaft 85 and is adapted to be actuated by a lever 09 through links 90 and 90 for disconnecting pulley 84 from motor shaft 85, thus stopping the operation of the machine when desired, and also for connectin pulley 84 to the motor shaft to start the machine.

A vacuum contact platen 9| is arranged above the negative carrier 2 and is adapted to be automatically actuated for moving the portion of the strip 5 of sensitized material above the negative carrier into close contact with the transparent panel 3 having the negative 4 therebetween, said platen 9I comprising a substantially rectangularly shaped frame 92 having a diaphragm 93 made of rubber or other resilient material mounted on the lower edge of the frame, with strips 94 of soft rubber or other suitable material mounted around the outer edges of the diaphragm. The soft rubber strips 94 are so placed on the frame 92 that they will contact with the transparent panel 3, with the space 95 between the strips 94 and a pad 96 providing a passage, whereby air may pass freely therethrough for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The pad 96 which is made of suitable porous material such as felt is mounted on the lower surface of the diaphragm 93.and is adapted to contact with the strip 5 of sensitized material.

On the vacuum contact platen 9I at the corners thereof are outwardly extending plate members 91, with the plate members 91 on one end of the vacuum platen extending outwardly in opposite directions from the other plate members 91 on an opposite end of the platen. These plate members 91 have guides 98 slidably mounted on vertical uprights 99 of the frame I, and the plate members 91 are fixedly mounted on the upper ends of vertically extending rods I00, I00, and I01, IOI, pivotally mounted at their lower ends to the outer ends of arms I02, I02, I03 and I03 of hell cranks I04, I04, I05, and I05, respectively. The bell cranks I04 and I04 are fixedly mounted on a rocker shaft I06, which in turn is rotatably mounted in bearings I01 mounted on machine frame I and bell cranks I05 and I05 are mounted on stub shafts I08 and I08, rotatably mounted in bearings I09. The other arms H0 and H0 of the bell cranks I04 and I05, respectively, are pivotally connected together by a connecting bar I I I. The other arms H2 and H2 of the bell cranks I04 and I05, respectively, are pivotally connected together by a connecting bar H3. The bell crank I05 has an additional arm I I4 thereon in alinement with the arm I03 thereof and has a roller. II5 on its outer end engagin a cam IIO fixedly mounted on the main shaft 55, which cam H0 is provided with a low part H1 and a high part II8 forming shoulders IIB, whereby the cam H5 is adapted to ride from the low part II1 to the high part H8 or from the high part II8 to the low part II1 of the cam for automatically actuating the bell cranks and their connected mechanism in operating the platen 9I into engagement with the glass panel 9 of the negative carrier 2 and with the pad 96 on the diaphragm 93 of the platen adapted to contact with the negative 4, also for automatically actuating the platen 9| out of engagement with the panel 3. Springs H8 are connected to the bars III and H3 and to the machine frame I for normally maintaining the platen operating mechanism inits inoperative position.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 9 and 10, a stamping punch H9 is mounted on the platen 9I, which punch II9, upon the actuation of the platen 9I into contact'with the transparent plate 3 of negative carrier 2, causes a lever II9 on the punch to strike a stop I20 mounted on a bracket I2I of a counter I22 to actuate the punch through an opening I23 formed in the punch, for producing apertures in the strip 5 of sensitized material whereby an index is provided for cutting the photographic prints from the strip of sensitized material.

A conventional motor driven vacuum pump I24 is mounted on machine frame I and is connected by a conduit I25 in communication with a suitable lubricator I26 which in turn is connected by a conduit I21 to a relatively large vacuum tank or chamber I28. The vacuum pump I24 is also connected by a conduit I29 to an oil separator I30 which in turn is connected to an exhaust pipe I30. The vacuum chamber I29 is connected in communication with an automatically operated valve I3I by means of a conduit I32 and from the valve I3I to the platen 9| through a conduit I33 and a flexible conduit I34 connected to a small conduit I35 mounted on the platen 9 I. The small conduit I35 extends through the diaphragm 93 to the space between the strips 94 and pad 96, Fig. 8.

The valve I3I shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12 is mounted on a plate I31 on machine frame I and comprises a T-shaped fitting I38 including a cylindrical portion I39 having a cylinder I40 fitted therein containing apertures MI and I42 and connected at one end to the conduit I32 leading into the vacuum tank I28. The apertures I4I are so arranged on the cylinder I40 as to provide passages therethrough into the cylindrical portion I39 connected to the conduit I33 leading toward the platen 9|, and the apertures I42 provide passages through the cylinder I40 to the atmosphere. Within the cylinder I40 is a piston or plunger I43 mounted on one end of a piston rod I44 having a roller I45 mounted on its outer end by a bolt I46, which roller I45 is held in contact with a cam I41 by a spring I48, which cam I41 is mounted on the main shaft 55. The spring I48 is connected at one end to the bolt I46 and at its other end to the machine frame I at I49. The piston rod I44 is slidably mounted in a bearing I50 provided on a bracket I5I mounted on the plate I31 and the cam I41 has a high portion I52 and a low portion I53, thereby forming shoulders I54 which are adapted to engage the roller I45 for causing the roller I45 to move from the low portion I53 to the high portion I52 and from the high portion I52 to the low portion I53 of cam I41 to reciprocate the piston I43 in the cylinder I48 by means of the connecting rod I44 for a purpose which will hereinafter be described. A gauge I55 having a hand I55 and a suitably graduated dial I56 thereon is connected to the vacuum chamber I28 by a conduit I51.

A switch operating disc or cam I58 is also fixedly mounted on the main shaft 55 and is provided with a fixed pin I59 and a movable pin I60 adjustably mounted in an arcuate slot IBI provided in the disc I58. A suitable graduated scale I62 is inscribed on the disc I58 along the slot I6 I whereby the amount of adjustment of the movable pin I60 in the slot I6I away from and toward the fixed pin I58 may be determined for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Upon rotation of the main shaft 55, pins I59 and I60 on disc I56 are adapted to actuate a master switch I63 for making and breaking a charged electric circuit illustrated in Fig. 15 to be hereinafter described.

The master switch I63 illustrated in detail in Figs. 13 and 14 preferably comprises a plate I64 mounted on a bracket I65 which in turn is suitably mounted to machine frame I, On the plate I64 are bolts I66 and I66 having switch blades I61 and I61 mounted on one of their ends, and electric conductors I68 and I68 connected to the other ends of the bolts I66 and I66. The witch blades I61 and I61 extend inwardly in opposed relation to each other and are provided with contact points I69 and I10, respectively. The bracket I65 provided with a pair of cars or bearing member I1I carrying a rotatably mounted shaft I 12 having an elongated shaped cam I 13 of suitable non-conductive material fixedly mounted on one end thereof and a hub I14 mounted on its other end, which hub I14 has a plurality of equally spaced radial pins I15 fixed thereon, A rectangularly shaped block member I16 i also mounted on shaft I12 between the bearing members HI and is adapted to abut against a plate I11 provided with an inwardly extending pin I18 surrounded by a spring I19 adapted to force the plate I11 into contact with one side of the block member I16.

- Referring more particularly to Fig. 15, the conductor I68 for the switch I63 is connected to one terminal I80 of a light switch I8I through the electric plugs I82 and I83. The light switch III is connected to a machine operating switch I34 by a. conductor I85, which switch I84 is connected by a conductor I86 to the electric motor 06. The motor 86 is connected by a conductor I31 to one side of the plug I82 and the conductors I and I81 are connected to a suitable source of electric supply by conductors I88 and I88. The conductor I68 is connected to a plurality of separate conductors I89 through the individual switches II to one side of lamps A with the other side of the lamps A being connected by conductors I90 to the conductor I68. The motor driven vacuum pump I24 is connected to conductors I86 and I81 by conductors I9I.

In automatically makin photographic prints by the improved photographic printing machine, assuming that switch I84 has been closed, Fig. 15, a circuit is completed through the conductor I88 of the positive side of the electric circuit through part of the conductor I85, switch I64, conductor I86, through the motor 86, conductor I81, to the conductor I88 of the negative side of circuit, whereby the motor 86 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow and a circuit is completed through conductors I3| to vacuum pump I24 for starting the vacuum pump. The motor 86 drives the standard speed regulating device H by means of the belt 83, which engages pulley 84 on motor shaft 85 and also engages between movable pulley element 10 and fixed pulley element 82 on rod 12 of the speed regulating device 1I, whereby input shaft 66 of the commercial speed reduction device 65 is driven in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow by means of belt 68, which engages pulley 61 on input shaft 66 of the speed reduction device 65 and also between the other side 0f movable pulley element 10 and fixed pulley element 69 of the speed regulating device 1I, Figs. 2 and 6. Upon rotation of input shaft 66 of the speed reduction device 65, the output shaft 64 thereof is driven in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby driving the ear 63 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow and rotating gear 62 in a clockwise direction, which in turn rotates main shaft 55 and cam I I6 thereon inthe same direction as gear 62.

As cam I I6 is rotated, the roller I I5 on the arm II4 of bell crank I05 is caused to ride up on the high part II8 of the cam from the low part II1 by means of a shoulder H6, whereby bell crank I05 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 5, thus rotating bell crank I04 in a clockwise direction through connecting bar I I3, thus causing the arms I02 and I03 of the bell cranks I04 and I05 to pull downwardly on rods I00 and IN connected at their upper ends to one side of the vacuum plates 9|, Upon the rotation of bell cranks I04 and I05, the rocker shaft I06 is rotated in a clockwise direction thus rotating the bell crank I04 in the same direction, which in turn actuates the connectin bar III to move the bell crank I05 in a clockwise direction to pull downwardly on the rod I00 and IOI, connected to the other side of the Vacuum platen 9 I, whereupon the vacuum platen is pulled downwardly until the soft rubber strips 94 thereon contact with the transparent panel 3 of the negative carrier 2, with the pad 96 on the diaphragm 93 contacting with the portion of the strip 5 of sensitized material above the negative 4 on the transparent panel 3.

Upon the soft rubber strips 94 of vacuum platen 9| contacting with the transparent panel 3, the valve operating cam I41, Figs. 11 and 12, on main shaft 55 is moved sufficiently that roller I45 on the outer end of cennecting rod I44 has been moved from the high part I52 of the cam whereby the spring I48 pulling outwardly on piston rod I44 of piston I43 causes roller I45 to ride down onto the low part I53 of cam I41 with the piston I43 being moved to an operative position where the vacuum chamber I28 is connected in communication through the valve |3| to the vacuum platen 9| and air is quickly withdrawn from between the diaphragm 93 and glass plate 3 and passes through pipe I35, flexible conduit I34, conduit I33, valve I3I, conduit I32, to vacuum tank I28, with the space 95 betweenstrips 94 and pad 96 providing a passage for permitting the air to pass freely there through, whereupon atmospheric pressure is caused to bear on diaphragm 93 for holding the strip 5 of sensitized material in perfect contact with the negative 4 on transparent panel 3. Upon the sensitized material being held in contact with the negative 4, the switch operating disc I58, fixed to main shaft 55, is rotated sufficiently o 081156 the adjustably mounted pin I60 to engage one of the radial pins I15 on the exposure electric switch I63, whereby shaft H2 is rotated a sufficient distance to cause switch cam I13 to engage with switch blade I61 and forcing the free end of the switch blade I61 inwardly until the contact point I thereon engages with contact point I69 on the free end of the switch blade I61. Assuming that light power switch I8I and individual switches II of the bank of lamps A have been closed, an electric circuit is thus completed from the conductor I88 of the positive ide of the electric circuit through switch |8| to one side of the plug I82, to one side of the plug I83 to conductor I68 through switch I63, to conductor I68, through plugs I83 and I82 to conductor I81 to the negative side of the circuit, and from the conductor I68 through the individual conductors I89, individual switches II, the bank of lamps A through the conductors I90 to the conductor I68.

Upon energization of the lamps A the strip 5 of sensitized material is exposed to the negative 4 through transparent panel 3, thereby producing a print of the negative thereon. The individually connected switches I I correspond in number to the number of lamps A in box 9 and are connected so any desired lamp may be extinguished, if desired, to reduce the amount of light under certain areas of the negative 4 whereby uneven densities of the negative may be compensated. The light retarding material 1 between the glass plates 6 is also adapted to compensate for uneven densities in the negative.

The correct exposure period for the strip of sensitized material to a certain negative may be determined by test or by measuring the density of the negative by means of a commercial light meter (not shown), which exposure period is controlled by adjusting the movable pin I60in the arcuate slot I6| along the scale I62 on disc I58 either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction away from or toward the fixed pin I59 for increasing or decreasing the exposure period, respectively. After the disc I58 has rotated sufficiently, the fixed pin I59 engages another of the radial pins I on the exposure electrode switch I63, whereby the shaft I12 is rotated a sufficient distance to cause the cam I13 to become disengaged from the switch blade I61, which blade I61 springs outwardly from engagement with the switch blade I61, thus breaking the circuit through conductors I68 and I68 to extinguish the lamps A.

After the lamps A have been extinguished, the main shaft 55 is rotated sufficiently to cause roller I45 in contact with valve operating cam I41 to ride up on the high part I52 thereof and moving piston I43 into the cylinder I40 of valve |3I whereby the vacuum tank I28 is cut off from the valve I3I and air is permitted to enter the apertures I42 in the cylinder |40and to pass through the apertures IM to conduits I33, I34 and pipe I35 where it enters vacuum platen 9|, thus breaking the vacuum therein. After the air has entered vacuum piston 9|, the cam I41 has been actuated to a position where roller I45 has ridden from the high part I52 of cam I41, whereupon the springs H8 pulling on bars III and H3 actuate bell cranks )4, I04, I05 and I05 in a direction to move the rOdS I00, I00, |0| and |0-|', respectively, for moving vacuum platen 9| upwardly from engagement with the strip of sensitized material. The crank 53 is so positioned on main shaft 55that, after platen 9| has been raised, rack 46 is caused to move upwardly in mesh with gear 45, whereby feed roller shaft 35 is rotated in a clockwise direction through the conventional one-way or over-running clutch 44 to rotate the feed roller 21 in the same direction, whereby after each exposure the required amount of the strip 5 of sensitized material is drawn from the supply roll I3 and fed by the feed roller 21 toward rewind roller 28 rotated by belt 32 upon the actuation of the feed roller 21.

In order to print on sensitized material of different speeds or degrees of sensitivity or to print from negatives of varying density, it is desirable to be able to regulate the speed of the machine over a range as for example from 6 to 36 cycles per minute. This is accomplished by driving the standard speed regulating device 1| by the belt 83, driven by electric motor 86, while belt 68 drives speed reduction device 64 from speed regulating device 1| having gear 63 mounted on the output shaft 04 thereof, with the gear 63 meshing with gear 62 mounted on main shaft 55.

By moving the lever 16 toward motor pulley 84, that is to the left, above scale 19 on plate 11, th rod 12 having pulley elements 69, 10 and 62 thereon is moved to the left through shaft 14 and arm 13 of the speed regulating device 1|, whereby the belt 83 from electric motor 86 engaging between movable pulley element 10 and pulley element 82 causes pulley element 10 to move over toward pulley element 69 and decreasing the space between pulley elements 69 and 10, thereby causing the machine to operate at a slower speed, and should the lever 16 be moved toward the speed reduction device 65, that is to the right along scale 19, the pulley elements 69, 10 and 82 are also moved toward the speed reduction device, whereby belt 68 causes the movable pulley element 10 to move along the rod 12 toward pulley element 82, thus decreasing the space between pulley elements 10 and 82 and increasing the space between pulley elements 69 and 10, thereby causing the photographic printing machine to run faster. The gear 62 on main shaft 55 meshing with gear 63 on output shaft 64 of speed reduction device 65, which gears 62 and 63 may be of the elliptical type if desired, are arranged in such a manner that the minor radius I92 of gear 63 is engaged with the major radius I93 of gear 62, thereby causing a relatively slower rotative speed of the main shaft 55 during an exposure period and the major radius I94 of gear 63 is engaged by the minor radius I95 of gear 62 in accelerating the operation of the machine to perform purely mechanical features thereof.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a novel and efficient form of photographic printing machine which is well adapted for all the purposes indicated. Even though there has been herein shown and described certain features of construction and operation of parts, it is nevertheless to be understood that various changes in construction may be made therein if the changes do not depart from the spirit or scope of the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photographic printing machine adapted to produce automatically a plurality of photographic prints of a negative on a strip of sensitized material, the combination of a support, a negative carrier removably mounted on the support and including a transparent panel adapted to support a negative, said strip of sensitized material disposed above the panel, means disposed about the strip of sensitized material and adapted to be actuated at predetermined time intervals for moving portions of the strip of sensitized material into contact with the negative, means disposed beneath the negative carrier and adapted to print the negative on the strip of sensitized material, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of electric lamps, an electric circuit connected to a source of potential and having connections with each of said lamps, a switch in each of said connections, a master switch connected to be actuated to open and close said electric circuit, means including a feed roller for moving the strip of sensitized material across the panel at predetermined time intervals, a shaft connected to drive said feed roller, means mounted on said shaft for actuating said master switch to close said electric circuit at predetermined time intervals for lighting the lamps to produce prints of the negative on sensitized material, and means for driving the 2. In a photographic printing machine adapted to produce automatically a plurality of prints of a negative onto a strip of sensitized material, the combination of a support, a negative carrier removably mounted on the support and including a transparent panel adapted to support a negative, means adapted to contact the strip of sensitized material with the negative, means adapted to print the negative onto a surface of the strip of sensitized material, said last-mentioned means 7 including a plurality of electric lamps, an electric circuit connected to a source of potential and said electric circuit at predetermined time intervals, means including a feed roller for intermittingly moving the strip of sensitized material at predetermined time intervals across the negative, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and connected to drive said feed roller, a disc fixedly mounted on said shaft and having pins provided thereon, one of said pins fixed to said disc and another of said pins adjustably mounted thereon, said pins on the disc adapted to actuate said master switch at predetermined time intervals for opening and closing said electrical circuit at predetermined time intervals and means for driving the shaft at different speeds during each cycle of operation of the machine for accelerating the action of said first and third-mentioned means and retarding the action of said disc in causing said pins to actuate said master switch, said driving means including a gear eccentrically mounted on said shaft, speed reduction means, a gear eccentrically mounted on said speed reduction means and meshing with said first-mentioned gear, a speed regulating mechanism connected to drive said speed reduction means and an electric motor connected to drive said speed regulating mechanism.

3. In a photographic printing machine adapted to produce automatically a plurality of photographic prints of a negative on a strip of sensitized material, the combination of a support, a. transparent panel adapted to support a negative mounted on said support, said strip of sensitized material disposed above said panel, a vacuum platen disposed above said strip of sensitized maactuated upwardly and downwardly on said support, a diaphragm provided on said platen, means for actuating said platen downwardly to press a portion of the strip of sensitized material into engagement with the panel and to actuate said platen upwardly from the panel, means including a valve, adapted to be automatically actuated at predetermined time intervals for creating a vacuum in said platen, whereby said diaphragm is forced downwardly by atmospheric pressure to press a portion of the strip of sensitized material against the negative, means for producing a print of the negative on the sensitized material, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of electric lamps, an electric circuit connected to a source of potential and having separate connections to each of said lamps, a switch controlling said electric circuit, means including a feed roller for intermittingly moving the strip of sensitized material at prede termined time intervals across the panel, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support and connected to drive said feed roller, means mounted on said shaft for automatically and intermittently actuating said switch for closing said circuit at predetermined time intervals for energizing said lamps, said valve adapted to be actuated for admitting air into said platen for breaking the vacuum, means mounted on said shaft for actuating said valve at predetermined time intervals and means for driving said shaft at different speeds during each cycle of operation of the machine for accelerating the action of said first, fourth and sixth-mentioned means and retarding the action of said fifth-mentioned means, said regulating mechanism.

4. In a photographic printing machine adapted to produce automatically a plurality of exposures on a strip of sensitized material, the com bination of means including a plurality of elec trio lamps adapted to print an image on the strip of sensitized material, means connected to actuate said lamps at predetermined time intervals for printing the image on the strip of sensitized material, means including afeed roller for intermittlngly moving the strip of sensitized material at predetermined time intervals across the image, a shaft connected to drive said feed roller, means mounted on said shaft for controlling the action of said second-mentioned means and means for driving said shaft at different speeds during each cycle of operation of the machine for accelerating the action of said third-mentioned means and retarding the action of said fourth-mentioned means, said driving means including a gear eccentrically mounted on said shaft, speed reduction means, a gear eccentrically mounted on said speed reduction means and meshing with said first-mentioned gear, a speed regulating mechanism connected to drive said speed reduction means and an electric motor connected to drive said speed regulating mechanism.

5. In a photographic printing machine adapted to produce automatically a plurality of photographic prints of a negative on a strip of sensitized material, the combination of a support, a negative carrier removably mounted on the support and including a transparent panel adapted to support a negative, means including a plurality of electric lamps adapted to print the negative on the strip of sensitized material supported by said panel, means connected to actuate said first-mentioned means at predetermined time intervals for lighting the lamps to produce prints of the negative on the strip of sensitized material, means including a feed roller for intermittingly moving the strip of sensitized material at predetermined time intervals across the negative, means mounted on said shaft for controlmoving the strip of sensitized material at predetermined time intervals across the negative, said ling the action of said second-mentioned means and means for driving said shaft at different speeds during each cycle of operation of the machine for accelerating the action of said thirdmentioned means and retarding the action of said fourth-mentioned means, said driving means including a gear eccentrically mounted on said shaft, speed reduction means, a gear eccentrically mounted on said speed reduction means and meshing with said first-mentioned gear, a speed regulating mechanism connected to drive said speed reduction means and an electric motor connected to drive said speed regulating mechanism.

6. In a photographic printing machine adapted to produce automatically a plurality of photographic prints of a negative on a strip of sensitized material, the combination of a support, a negative carrier removably mounted on the support and including a transparent panel adapted to support a negative, means adapted to print the negative onto a strip of sensitized material, means connected to actuate said first-mentioned means at predetermined time intervals for producing prints of the negative on the strip of sensitized material, means for intermittently last-mentioned means including a feed roller, an overrunning clutch adapted to drive said feed roller, a rewind roller, means for winding the strip of sensitized material on said rewind roller, a shaft, a rack engaging said clutch and connected to be actuated by said shaft for driving said clutch, means mounted on said shaft for controlling the action of said second-mentioned means and means for driving said shaft at difierent speeds during each cycle of operation of the machine for accelerating the action of said thirdmentioned means and retarding the action of said fifth-mentioned means, said driving means including a gear eccentrically mounted on said shaft, speed reduction means, a gear eccentrically mounted on said speed reduction means and meshing with said first-mentioned gear, a speed regulating mechanism connected to drive said speed reduction means and an electric motor connected to drive said speed regulating mechanism.

'7. In a photographic printing machine adapted to produce automatically a plurality of photographic prints of a negative on a strip of sensitized material, the combination of a support, a transparent panel mounted on said support and adapted to support a negative, said strip of sensitized material disposed above said panel, a vacuum platen disposed above the strip of sensitized material and mounted to be actuated upwardly and downwardly on said support, a diaphragm provided on said platen, means for actuating said platen downwardly to press a portion of the strip of sensitized material into engagement with the panel, means adapted to create a vacuum within the platen, whereby said diaphragm is forced downwardly at atmospheric pressure to press the portions of the strip of sensitized material against the negative, means for printing the negative on the strip of sensitized material, means connected to actuate said thirdmentioned means at predetermined time intervals for producing prints of the negative on the strip of sensitized material, means including a feed roller for intermittingly moving the strip of sensitized material at predetermined time intervals across said negative, a shaft connected to drive said feed roller, a plurality of means mounted on said shaft for controlling the action of said first, second and fourth-mentioned means and means for driving said shaft at different speeds during each cyclelof operation of the ma chine for accelerating the action of said first, second and fifth-mentioned means and retarding the action of said fourth-mentioned means, said driving means including a gear eccentrically mounted on said shaft, speed reduction means, a gear eccentrically mounted on said speed reduction means and meshing with said first-mentioned gear, a speed regulating mechanism con-- nected to drive said speed reduction means and an electric motor connected to drive said speed regulating mechanism.

GEORGE C. GARRAWAY. 

